Means for indelibly writing upon paper and other fabrics



Sept. 22, 1931. w. L. GILL 1,824,341

MEANS FOR INDELIBLY.WRITING UPON PAPER AND OTHER FABRICS Filed June 25,1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WAATER L. G/LL,

ATTORNEYJ I p 22, 1931. w. L. GILL 1,824,341

usm FOR'INDILIBLYMRITING upon mzn AND opium mamas Filed June 25. 1928 2Sheets-51w 2 INVENTOR. WALTER L. GILL,

A TORNEYS Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC WALTER L.GILL, OF BEDLANDS, CALII'OBNIA Application flied June 25,

This invention relates to a method of and means for indelibly writingupon paper and other fabrics. The primary purpose of the invention is toprevent forgery, though, as

this description proceeds, it will be seen that the principles involvedare useful in formin designs upon various kinds of flex ble faiirics,such as paper, cloth, and the like, adapted to be completely penetratedby a high tension current.

The invention further contemplates the employment of a stylus of suchsolidity that, while it cannot flow into and blot the paper, yet it maybe disrupted by the action of the electric current and part of itssubstance be actually driven into the paper about the perforationsformed by the action of the electric current. A

A further object of the invention is to pro- 0 vide a structure of thecharacter indicated, in which the connections are so arranged that theoperator will be protected from accidental shock from the high tensioncurrent.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth indetail in the description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred form of apparatus adaptedto carry out the purposes of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, looking from one side of the apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, looking from the opposite side of theapparatus, and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the stylus, hereinafter described.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

g In reference to Fig. 1, the circuit enters the machine through theattachment lug F, from any commercial or city circuit, t rough thecontacts E and E of the convenience out let body E, then from theconnection E to G 45 of the switch G, through the switch G to thecontact G, to the transformer C at terminal C, through the. primarywinding of the transformer C and out through the terminal C and fromthere to the contact E at the convenience outlet body E. From the sec-1928. Serial Io. M338.

ondary of the transformer C through the terminal C to the binding post Bon an induction or spark coil B, then through the primary winding of theinduction coil to the make and break contact at B, then through thevibrator blade to the binding post B, to the terminal C. i

The secondary circuit of the induction coil ties to the binding post B,from B to the terminal H of the jack H. The circuit branches at H andone line goes to the terminal 1) of the choke coil D, then through thecoil to the terminal D, then to the condenser J at the terminal J thenfrom the terminal J of the condenser to the binding post B of theinduction coil B, then a special wire S runs from the binding post B ofthe secondary to binding B of the primar of the induction coil B. Thepurpose of t is special connection is to keep the high volta e of theinduc- 7 i tion coil off the metal plate K, which forms part of the topof the casing A in which the spark coil and associated parts are housed,in Fig. 2. A wire-P runs from the binding post B to the plate K, Fig. 2.Then the circuit is from the jack I through the flexible wire of thepencil M, in Fig. 2, through the filler of the pencil, then through theWriting material between the pencil M and the metallic plate Fig. 2,then from plate K back to the binding post B, thus completing thesecondary circuit on the induction coil B.

A piece of insulating material of the shape shown by the dotted line L,in Fig. 2, is placed on the metal plate K for the purpose of making arest for the writers hand and for the purpose of holding the check orother writing material firmly on plate K. The insulating material ispivoted at the pin N, in Fig. 2. The metal plate K, which is aconductor, forms an integral part of the container A.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 4, the pencil comprises a body portion M,which is made of insulating material, such as hard rubber, for example.and carries a renewable core, or point, of conductive material, similarto the fillin of lead pencils, for example, and which maybe made ofvarying colors, and it is to this core that the flexible wire M oil, orstylus M, is connected.

of the n pe 2 of the pencil to the metallic plate.

The use of a dry stylus of material of this character permits the actualburning or minute exploding of the particles of paper around the minuteperforations caused by the action of the high tension current as itpasses from the point of said conductive core It further permits theactual disruption of a part of this relatively hard core which isexploded or impacted forcibl into the paper, or like material being actupon, around the edges of such perforations, to such an extent as torender it impossible for anyone to remove the same.

It is clear that a core of this character will not spread or blot thepaper, after the manner of a liquid. Consequently, I am able to maintainclear cut and distant lines while, at the same time, actuallyperforating the paper and impregnating the same with a substance whichcannot be removed. This clean line effect is further enhanced by the useof a plate which is conductive at all points in its area. That is tosay, there are no dead spots in the plate, and, consequently, wheneverthe vibrator of the spark coil is in a position to cause a dischargefrom the secondary, the paper will be punctured, no matter at whatposition the stylus may be at that particular moment with respect to theplate.

Forgeries are mostly accomplished in two ways, viz The signature to beforged is placed over a glass under which a strong light is placed, thenpaper is laid above and the signature is traced. The above method cannotbe used with the device of this invention, as there must be a metallicsheet under the paper which is being written upon, and said metallicsheet would shut out the light.

The second method is to copy the signature by drawing it, which requiresa slow exact movement of the pencilf A signaturewritten at normal speedwould have a certain number of holes per inch, while a drawn copy :ofthat signature would have a greatly increased amount of burning due tospark continuing to flow through the holes for a greater length of time,caused by the slower movement of the pencil. Assume that a certain manwrites all his checks with the device of this application, and that hissignature card at the bank is written by the same method. If hissignature is forged by the drawing, or slow method, the difference inthe burning and size of the holes would be at once noticeable. Thisapparatus gives protection automatically. for the reason that the timeelement necessary for the voltage to build up high enough to puncturethe paper governs the number of holes punctured per inch, as

well as the degree of burning in paper of payee; raising the amount ofthe check, either in the figures or the written amount; and change ofdate of a check. It also protects the makers signature, or any otherlegible mark, because of the fact that the electric arc of the pencil,in passing through the paper, burns a perforation or punctures thepaper, making an irregular hole, burning the edges of the hole, andfusing into the paper about such edges, the color from the pencilfiller.

The action of the electric are which ap proaches an explosivea'c'tion,due to the fact that passage of the current takes place intermittentlyand only when the current has been built up by the coil, raises smallirregular particles at the edges of the perforations. These cannot beplugged with regular shaped pieces of paper, they cannot be erasedbecause they are burned through, and paper pulp cannot be filled inbecause it will not unite with the burned edges, and the color from thedisrupted core would show through such filler.

It is to be understood that the invention is points in its area, a sparkcoil in the casing,

means for supplying current to the primary of the spark coil, aconnection between the secondary of the spark coil and said plate, astylus having a conductive core adapted to be manually traversed over apaper disposed upon said plate included in the secondary circuit of saidcoil, and a special connection between the secondary and primarycircuits of the spark coil, by which the high potential from saidsecondary is prevented from being imposed upon said plate withoutgrounding of said plate.

2. In a device of the character described, comprising a rectangularcasing, the to) of which is shaped to form a writing surface, a plateconstituting a part of said' top, said plate being conductive over sustantially all of its area, a stylus, means within the casing forsupplying high potential to said stylus in such manner that when thestylus is passed over a piece of paper placed upon said plate, saidpaper will be perforated by the action of high potential, and a restmade of a piece of insulating material of substantial L-shape, theextremity of the long leg of which is pivoted to the top of the casing,with said long leg disposed in substantial parallelism with the top ofsaid plate.

In testin'iony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALTER L. GILL.

